Community support saves Bute’s jazz festival

Published:14:48Wednesday 02 February 2011

Share this article

The 2011 Isle of Bute Jazz Festival WILL go ahead at the end of April.

Members of the event’s organising committee decided on Wednesday evening that in the light of the huge support shown by the local community for the festival - and the raising of nearly £13,000 in just one week to help with its running costs - they would go ahead with making plans for a festival to run from Friday, April 29 until Sunday, May 1.

The remarkable turnaround follows the organisers’ decision only three weeks ago that the 2011 event could not go ahead due to a lack of major financial support.

But at a public meeting in Rothesay last Wednesday, the community was set the target of raising £15,000 in only seven days in the hope of ensuring the festival could still go ahead.

And though that target has not quite been met, the event’s organising committee decided on Wednesday that the local efforts made in support of the festival could not go unrewarded.

Committee member Tim Saul told us: “Due to the measure of support received since the committee’s previous decision, the decision has been made to go ahead with a jazz festival from April 29 until May 1 this year.

“The members of the committee would like to express their sincere thanks to the community of Bute - both businesspeople and individuals who have contributed financially and those who have come forward with offers of practical help.

“We would welcome contributions from anyone who has not yet donated, because the more support we have, the bigger and better an event we will be able to put on.”

Donations can still be made in person at the offices of Rothesay law firm Wm. Skelton & Co or online at the festival’s website (www.butejazz.com).